Actuator assembly



Sept 27, 1966 s. l.. SAT1-IER 3,274,839

ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY Filed May 22, 1964 3 .|lllliiiir.: I :Ic I lnllllw? ff j@ j? INVENTOR.

' gra/wey L 5471/5@ United States Patent 3,274,839 ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY Stanley L. Sather, Pomona, Calif., assigner to General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona, Calif., a corporation `of Delaware Filed May 22, 1964, Ser. No. 369,397 11 Claims. (Cl. 74-102) This invention relates to actuator assemblies, particularly to switch actuator assemblies, and more par* ticularly to a switch actuator assembly for missiles or the like Ihaving a large activating surface area which is capable of bein-g easily actuated by an operator who, for example, may be heavily gloved.

One of the greater problems in switch actuator assemblies is to provide an actuating mechanism that can be quickly and easily operated under a variety of operating conditions. This problem is greatly enhanced by the advent of modern missile warfare wherein the missiles aie launched by mechanisms actuated `by switch assemblies. Field weapons have been developed that can be utilized by various personnel and under various atmospheric conditions. As in the past, a weapon operator dressed for extreme cold weather is presented with the problem of bow to l'ire the weapon with heavily gloved hands. While attempts have been made to overcome this problem, no known actuator prior to this invention has solved all of the needed requirements in this area.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an actuator assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provi-de a switch :actuator assembly.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an actuator assembly which can be oper-ated under various conditions.

Another object `of the invention is to provide an -actuator assembly having a large 'activating surface area and which can be actuated at any location thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide an actuator assembly for weapons having a trigger bar type :actuating area which can be actuated by depressing any portion along the length of the bar.

Other objects of the invention not specifically set forth above will become read-ily apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view partially in cross section of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the FIG. 1 device with portions cut away to show details thereof; and

FIG. 3 is an end view of the FIG. 1 device.

The present invention relates to an actuator assembly comprising an elongated actuator element biased in a direction away from its support by a spring Iloaded element disposed beneath its mid section, and restrained against outward movement by transverse retaining means at its opposite extremities. The retaining means only prevent `outward movement of the actuator element so the element may be fully depressed to actuate an associated mechanism such as a switch at any point along its length, one or the other of the retaining means acting .as a pivot point for the element when it is depressed at any location off of its mid-point.

Referring to the drawing, the actuator assembly of the inventio-n is positioned on a support panel 5, such as a gripstock of a weapon, l,and comprises in general: a phenolic mount 6 iixedly attached to panel 5 by any conventional means; a trigger or actuator bar 7; transverse restraining pins 8 and 9 mounted in mount 6; and a preloaded activator tip 10 operatively attached to bar 7 and positioned to actuate a spring loaded switch `11, such as a Well known micro-switch. Tip 10 is adjusted ICC to slightly depress switch 11 which prelo'ads the spring (not shown) in the switch.

Actuator bar 7 consists of a body lportion 12 of a width greater than phenolic mount 6 and extends over the entire length of mount 6; end portions 13 and 14 which are of lesser width than body portion 12 (see FIG. 3), cach of end portions 13 and 14 being so designed as to partially encompass restraining pins' 8 and 9, respectively; and .an aperture 1'5 positioned in the center of body portion i12, said aperture 15 being countersun'k for reasons set forth hereinafter.

Phenolic mount 6 includes cut-away sect-ions 16 in the ends thereof, said cut-away sections being slightly wider than the width of the actuator bar end portions 13 and 14 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) to allow movement of said actuator bar end therethrough. An aperture 17 extends vertically through the center of mount 6 to allow activator tip 10 to move freely therethrough, said aperture 17 including a countersunk portion 1S, the purpose to be described hereinafter. The upper surface of phenolic mount 6, as shown in FIG. l, is so designed as to have a center section defining .an inclined surface or ramp 19 and a ilat top surface of a width less than t-he diameter of the countersunk portion 18.

Panel 5 is provided with cut-.away sections 20 directly beneath cut-away sections 16 of mount 6 (only one being shown), said cut-away sections 20 being of the same width but of greater length than cut-away sections `16 so .as to .al-low end portions 1'3 or 14 of actuator bar 7 to pass therethrough as indicated in phantom in FIG. 1. Spring loaded switch 11 is located directly under activator tip 10 as shown in FIG. 1 and, if desirable, can be -attached to panel 5. The lower part of tip 10, in this illustration,` is positioned within 4switch `11 and moves when actuated by actuator bar 7 to the position sho-wn in phantom in FIG. 1.

Trigger or actuator bar 7 is operatively attached to activator tip 10 by mounting an internally threaded insert 21 in aperture 15 of body portion 12, insert 21 being held in non-rotatable relation with respect to bar 7 by the outwardly extending grips or prongs which grip the circumference of aperture 15. Insert 21 includes cap portions 22 and 23 which, respectively, extend above and below the pronged portion thereof. A headless screw 24 (see FIG. 2) is threaded through insert 21, through lock nut 25, and into activator tip 10, `screw 24 being provided, in this embodiment, with an Allen-type head 26 for adjusting the same. `Screw 24 is rotated by head 26 for adjusting the preload of activator pit 10, after which lock nut 25 is turned aga-inst the cap 23 of insert 21 for maintaining the screw 24 in the desired location :and for stabilizing the mounting assembly.

The operation of the inventi-on is believed to be readily apparent vfrom the drawings and the above description, wherein switch 11 is actuated by the downward movement of activator tip 10 due to actuator or trigger bar 7 being depressed :at any portion along 4the length thereof. [For example, if the right hand end of actuator bar 7 is moved downwardly through the cut-aways 16 and 20, of mount 6 and panel 5, respectively, tothe position shown in i phantom in FIG. l, the end portion 13 of actuator bar 7 pivots around pin 8 mounted in the left hand end cutaway section l16 of phenolic mount 6. Downward move ment of the body portion 12 of actuator bar 7 moves Upon release of the pressure on actuator bar 7, the spring pressure of switch 11 moves the bar 7 upwardly to its initial position thereby deactivating switch 11.

Thus, it is readily apparent that movement of actuator bar 7 downwardly, as shown, at any point thereon will move activator tip 10 downwardly therew-ith and activate the spring yloaded switch 11.

It has thereby been shown that the invention provides a novel actuator assembly that utilizes a large area activating surface that can be quickly and easily operated under varied conditions, and is especially applicable to conditions wherein the operator is heavily gloved for protection as in cool weather, extreme heat, etc.

While not shown, a -boot -or cover may be utilized to seal the actuator assembly Iand protect it from the environment.

While the invention has been illustrated and described with relation to an actuating means for a switch, it is not limited thereto and may be utilized to actuate any other associated mechanism, such as release or trip mechanism, etc.

Although a part-icular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, modification thereof will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. An actuator assembly comprising: mounting means; a plurality of pins mounted in said mounting means in spaced relationship with each other; actuator means, said actuator means having end portions, each of said end portions being adapted to pivot about an associated one of said pins; and activator means operatively positioned in said mounting means and adjustably attached to said actuator means.

2. lIn combination with a pressure actuated member, -an actuator assembly comprising: a support member, a plurality of pins positioned in said support means in a spaced relation to one another, actuator means movable with respect to said support member and said pins, said actuator means including end portions adapted to mov- -ably cooper-ate with said plurality of pins, insert means connected with the said actuator means, and activator means adjustably mounted on said insert means, said activator means being adapted to activate an associated pressure actuated member.

3. An actuator assembly adapted to actuate a spring loaded switch or the like comprising: a mount adapted to be positioned on a support panel, said mount being provided with cut-away sections in each end thereof, an inclined center section, and an aperture extending through said center section; pin means positioned in each of said cut-away sections; an actuator member having a body portion and end portions, said end portions being movably positioned in said cut-away -sections of said mount and adapted to pivot about said pin means; activator means positioned in said aperture of said mount and adapted to activate an associated spring lloaded switch; and adjustable means for operatively connecting said activator means with said actuator means.

4. The actuator assembly deiined in claim 3 wherein said adjustable means includes an insert means, a screwlike member positioned in said insert means and operatively connected to said activator means, and means for locking said screw-like member in a desired location.

5. lAn actuator assembly having a large area activating surface comprising: a mount adopted to be operatively positioned on a support panel or the like, and mount including an included center portion having an Iaperture therethrough and cut-away sections in opposite end portions thereof; pin means mounted in said cutaway sections on said mount; an elongated actuator bar having a body portion and end portions, said end portions being so constructed to at least partially encompass said pin means and adapted to pivot thereon; threaded insert means operatively connected to the body portion of said actuator bar; threaded means positioned in said insert means and connected with an activator member located in the aperture of said mount; means for locking said threaded means; said activator member lbeing preloaded by an associated device to be actuated, said activator member normally holding the end portions of said actuator bar against said pin means, whereby applic-ation of pressure to any point on said actuator bar moves said activator member so as to actuate an associated device.

6. An actuator assembly comprising: mounting means; pin means mounted to said mounting means; actuator means having portions adapted to pivot about said pin means; said mounting means including an inclined portion which `functions as a stop for said actuator means; and activator means operatively positioned in said mounting means and adjustably attached to said actuator means.

7. An actuator assembly comprising; mounting means pin means mounted to said mounting means; actuator means having portions adapted to pivot about said pin means, said actuator means including a body portion and end portions of a llesser Width than said rbody portion, said end portions being constructed to at least partially encompass said pin means; and activator means operatively positioned in said mounting means and adjustably attached to said actuator means.

8. The actuator assembly defined in claim 7, wherein said mounting means is provided with cut-away sections adapted to allow movement therethrough of said ends of said actuator means, and includes an inclined portion which functions as a stop for said actuator means.

9. An actuator assembly comprising: mounting means; pin means mounted to said mounting means; actuator means having portions adapted to pivot about said pin means; insert means operatively mounted to said actuator means; activator means operatively positioned in said mounting means; and -adjustable means interconnecting said insert means with said activator means.

10. In combination with a pressure actuated member, an actuator assembly comprising: a support member, pin means positioned in said support member, actuator means movable with respect to said support member and said pin means, said support member including an inclined portion adapted to function as a stop for the actuator means, said inclined port-ion being provided with an aperture therethrough, said aperture including a countersunk portion, insert means connected with said actuator means, and activator mean-s movably positioned in said aperture, said .activator means being adjustably mounted on said insert means, said activator means being adapted to activate an .associated pressure actuated member.

11. The actuator assembly de-ned in claim 10 wherein said actuator means includes a body portion and end portions, said end portions being contigured so as to at least partially encompass said pin means, said end portions of said actuator means being adapted to move through cutaway portions of said support member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,452,830 11/1948 B-raun 20D--157 2,489,422 lil/'1949 Kuhn 74-522 2,5 86,722 2/ 1952 Rutherford 20G-157 X FRED C. MATTERN, JR., Primary Examiner.

F. E. BAKER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: MOUNTING MEANS; A PLURALITY OF PINS MOUNTED IN SAID MOUNTING MEANS IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER; ACTUATOR MEANS, SAID ACTUATOR MEANS HAVING END PORTIONS, EACH OF SAID END PORTIONS BEING ADAPTED TO PIVOT ABOUT AN ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID PINS; AND ACTIVATOR MEANS OPERATIVELY POSITIONED 